Things to Do in Port Canaveral on Your Next Cruise
Although cruising is a vacation in and of itself, if you are cruising out of Port Canaveral and have a day or two before or after your cruise, you’ll find a surprising number of things to do.
Port Canaveral is just one hour from Orlando, a city that has a lot to offer travelers — from adrenaline-packed theme parks to nature preserves. Also near to Port Canaveral is the Kennedy Space Center, which offers visitors a variety of opportunities to learn about space.
Here are some great things to do before or after a cruise from Port Canaveral.
#1. Visit the Everglades
Make an airboat adventure part of your pre- or post-cruise experience in Central Florida. Dive straight into the protected Wetlands of the Everglades. You'll travel deep into the Florida Everglades through the Bald Cypress Swamp and many freshwater marshes. You can expect to see Florida alligators, cottontail bobcats, American Bald Eagles, great white herons, and more. Insider tip: Make sure you bring binoculars and a camera with a high shutter speed to get good shots of the moving wildlife. For more information about visiting the Everglades, click here.
#2. Learn to Surf at Cocoa Beach
Cocoa Beach is the surf capital of the East Coast. Beginner and expert surfers alike enjoy Cocoa Beach for its many surf-themed shops, restaurants, and bars. Cocoa Beach is home to the original Ron Jon Surf Shop — the largest surf shop in the world. If you’ve always wanted to learn to surf, Cocoa Beach is the place to do it. You’ll find warm temperatures year-round. Check out this page to learn more about surfing lessons at Cocoa Beach.
#3. Tour Kennedy Space Center
Spend a day learning all about NASA’s space program. Since 1968, the Kennedy Space Center has been sending humans into space and it is still one of the primary sites for NASA’s rocket launches. There’s lots to do here so plan on spending the whole day. You’ll have the opportunity to talk with astronauts, try out a simulated space flight, or view remnants from the Apollo, Gemini, and Mercury programs.
#4. Spend a day at "The Happiest Place on Earth"
Have an incredible day or two at Walt Disney World® during your Port Canaveral cruise with Norwegian. Hop aboard Norwegian’s round-trip motorcoach transfer from the cruise pier to either Epcot® or the Magic Kingdom®. Everyone in the family will enjoy meeting their favorite Disney characters. Or, zip through a deserted mining town aboard a runaway train. The kids will scream with delight as they ride Thunder Mountain. Of course, you'll be hungry after a day of excitement. Fortunately, there are a variety of restaurants and eateries to try, from the cafeteria-style restaurants to fine dining at Cinderella's Royal Table.
#5. Take a Private Tour of the Daytona Speedway
Dubbed “The Great American Race,’ the Daytona 500 runs annually at the Daytona International Speedway. For the past six decades, the race has served up plenty of heroic figures, performances to remember and once-in-a-lifetime moments.
Exclusive to Norwegian cruise guests, the Private All Access Tour allows you a rare opportunity to explore the track from an insider’s vantage point. You’ll get to explore the Start/Finish line and the pit stalls up close.
What are some of your favorite things to do in Orlando and Port Canaveral?